Tannery-waste-disposal process.



Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Qu .Nn um H. W. TAYLOR.

TANNERY WASTE DISPOSAL PROCESS APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28,1916.

i amour tot nanny w. TAYLOR, on NEW YORK, as.)

TANnnnY wAsTE-msPosAn en'oons's.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sent. 3.1918.

*Apiilication filed November 28, 1916. Serial No. 133,928.

"To all whom itmgy 'concem [,Be itknown that I, HENRY \V. TAYLOR, acitizen of the United States residing at New York, inthe county of, NewYork and State of New York, have-invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tannery- WasteJDisposal Processes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enableothersskilrled .innthe art to' lwhich it appertains tomake and use thesame. I

This invention relates to tanning; proc esses, andwith regard to itsmore specific features to a process for the disposal of otherwise Wastematerial, and more specifi cally to the disposalof tanning wastes.

One of the objects of this invention is to enable atan yard to beconducted withless objection than heretofore. I i

ch further object is to dispose of the waste products from-tan yardsin apracticalnianner to get rid of the objectionable character of the same.

'Aturther object is to enable the liquid wasteslfrom a tan 'ard to beadmitted to natural streams Without the objectionable characteristics ofthe wastes polluting the streams, endangering fish life and otherarisecreating nuisance. 30..

Ina modern tan yard three prominent fol-" ins OfdVitStB liquors aredischarged; the :first is the miscellaneous water, such as tl' ose' withwhich the hides aresoaked and cleansed; the secondis thelinieqvastesltrom 36 the liming tanks;

I ning 'wastes discharged from the tanning vat's Ifthfese liquors bedischzu'ged into the neighboring streams, the alkaline ivastes im- 1part a strongly alkaline character 40 -stream,andthetanliquors impart a.acid: character and ,an objectionable @1 1 to the streamathuspollutilig the streau endangering, fis 'h life. :Furthelgmore. a large.mittttaf is cz'ul'ied by theligp uirs,

" much of r nder many cir ueheea an h fF urtl erl I, e; the l -imewastescontain matter u liich is soinsolfuble and readilyjpreme he 1torin:practicable,and it has inaotia im in some tanueries iii rou e andthe third is the tan- I 1 a ud f .isvputrescilile ai d including. I

' L imiention. rthc pended therein.

in u practicable.

"diagramuiatic lazy mit of a ripled; w

tanning Waste and, the lime wasteareakept separate from each otherand'de si-rabl uzsep arate from the, miscellaneous avatersaandeareunited, preferably, in proper proportions .to neutralize each otherchemically. ItdSaPlQ'fl enable to use the entire lime waste, theta-is;the liquid with the insoluble inatteri sus- This forms a heavyflocculent precipitate which carries down with it a largepart of thesuspended matteix and destroys the objectionable-.chemicalcharacteristics of both wastes, toget-her with the deep objectionablecolor of I the tanning Waste. V I I I By this interaction the insolublesuspended matter in the lime astes, which is otherwise so readilyprecipitable as to make .thehydraulicdisposal' thereof difiicult orimpracticable destroyed,probably entering into the composition-of theflocculent orec-ipitate in the settling tank. VT lilSI G'SI Ilt SlD theelimination of aprecipitate n'hichis inconvenient to dispose. ofQand it:i'epl acement by a precipitate :vghich is viscous-{11ml"' can be handled'l'iydraul'icallj There results a liquor of ,a light colo with littleobjectionable matter conti therein. This liquor may be furthei p iiri;lied, desired. by n-iixing' with a shitahle coagulant andre-precipitating.- For this purpose 'ferrol'ls sulfate is highly adrantzv genus; as it is capable of discharging tl'ie'rc- I maining coloras ell as c a rr ii ng I 90 of the other remaining impurities I unitedliquor from the astes may b fied alone. but it is preferahlet with themiscellaneous yam-s not only are thet ifo liquo single/step. but ie'rfand med these liquors when purified separately.pro

the remaining traces ofi th stunentfs contained therein a heliquorfronrthi's sr'rhh foo rlcarto all lcablci :The ain-ha ierhcforeorjafter 1 r sufficiently :p urt to" ma li l5 l t I molt. Intheedrau'ngs nina'ticall shown at 1. )r tl-te m iscella neo waste \i at anda lin'iingr mass contains a substantial In carrying out my process.means are employed which will permit the acid wastes and alkalinewasicto be united to form a precipitate. and preferably in suchproportions a to cause them ll t 'lt'.l'ltlt l to nouirailiie eachother. Tlllr may be accomplished. by retarding the discharge of thewastes from one of the vats until the proper amount of t'he'other liquoris ready to .ie dischz'irged. Although this may be done by holding onewaste in the vats. the most practical method is to provide some means 0tstoring one of these liquors in ascparate storage tank until such timeas the other is ready to be discharged, in order that the normal use ofthe vats shall not be. interfered with.

In some aspects of this invention. it is immaterial which of the twowastes shall be stored. but it more practicable to store the tanningwaste. because the lime waste is apt to contain insoluble matter. such.for example. as insoluble limes which. it' the lime waste stored withoutmechanical treatment. may settle into a pasty mass at the bottom of thestorage tank. This would he ol'ijectionable, both because of thenecessity of insuring that the pasty mass be removed from the tank andbecause this pasty alkali. and under many circumstances there mightresult a deficiency of alkali to neutralize the tannin if the insolublealkalis were not disclmrged with the liquor.

1n the preferred forn'i of [His invention, therefore. the wastes fromthe tanning vats are run into one or more storage tanks -"l)- from.which they can be discharged and mirnz lcd with the lime wastes inproper proportions to neutralize the latter. when the latter are beingdischarged from the lime vat-s.

Means are provided for mixing the'discharge from the storage tank 4 withthe alkaline wastes as the latterare discharged. As dia grammaticallyillustrated. this may consist (if a pump station (1' having a sumptherebencath. into which the alkaline w- "tes are discharged and a valvefor the admission of the tanning wastes from the storage tank 4, which.valve may be controlled by the flow o-fthe alkaline wastes. as. forexample, by the rise in the level-of the liquid. in the sump beneath thepui'n iing station. The liquor from the sump can be discharged into thesettling-tank 5 by any suitable means as hyflabucket pump cont-rolled bythedischarge of the alkaline wastes. if desired.

It will be obvious that any-means for insuring the discharge into thesettling tank of the prcde a'inined quantities of the lime and tanningwas. s may be used. and the levels ofth- "arious vats and tanks maybestich' t'hat a pump will be unnecessary to causethe proper flow.['nder such circumportion of the I charging the colo stances a floatvavle or any other convenient arrangement may be used. In this settlingtank. there will fall to the bottom th heavy precipitate. leaving thecomparatively clear liquor above.

The proper quantities of tanning waste and lime waste to cause themaximum purification in the settling tank may be most readily determinedby experiment with the liquors themselves. The excess of tanning isreadily detected by the deepening of the, color of the supernatantliquor and excess of the lig nev is readily detected bv excess-ofalkalinity in the discharge. Tie proportions having once beendetermined,'will remain substantially constant in the normal tan yardbecause of the substantially constant concentration of the dischargewastes. Ithas been found. however. that the total discharge from thetanning vats in the normal yard is substantially the proper quantity tocorrectly neutralize the total discharge from the liming vats. If thequantity of one of the wastes be greater than can be reacted uponby theother. and the excess be more than it is desired to have remain in thestream. the deficiency may be made up by adding a quantity of thedeficient chemical or of the excess of the surplus waste. example. ifmore lime waste were present than needed to react upon the tanningwaste, theexcess could be disposed of in any convenient manner. or. iftoo little. the necessary quantity of lime could be sup plied.

The liquor from the settling tank 5 being united to the miscellaneouswaters from the tan 1. may be conducted. tlirough a suitable dosingapparatus 7. to a precipitation tank o. In the dosing apparatus 7. thereis added to the 'ctaters the desired quantity of a suitable oagulant. asferrous sulfate. There results in this tank a precipitation of thecoagulant carrying with it the larger part of the ren'ianing impuritiesand dis- This precipitate is a fiocculent mass which readily settles tothe bottom of the tank 7. The siuiernatant liquor from the tank 8 maythen he carried ofl' to a filter. indicated at 9. This filter ispreferably either a sprinkling filter or a sand bed filter. The water.after ha ring. beenpurified by this filtration. may now be conducted toa suitable sterilizer. indicated at 10. where any diseasegerms or sporeswhich As, for

remain therein may be destroyed. A practical method of sterilizationconsists in the use of ultra-violet ra The sludges from. the settlingtank 5 and from the precipitation tank 8 both being of-a fiocculent'.

viscous nature. may be handled hydraulically and are convenientlydisposed of by permitting them to flow from the bottom of these tanksonto suitable sludge beds. As

by otherwise disposingpure condition. and it will lie notedthat.

each succeeding step is rendered possible or practicable'by thepreceding steps. Thus. for example. the precipitation b ferrous"Isult'ate is rendered more feasible by first removing the tanninimpurities. and filtra- 20 tion on apracticable scale made feasible'with commercial apparatus and at commerc'ial rates by the secondprecipitation. perhaps -hecause of the removal of the remainv the tanninand other impuri- -Furtli'ermore. sterilization by ultra.- let m; s madefeasible. because the preing stepshai'e clarified the water. There it ispossible 'to' discharge, the wastes in a less pure. condition than thatguavli icliaresults from the carrying out of all the; steps herein,described. as, f0r example, where" a large stream of water isavailable, into which the wastes may be discharged, so thatsuch thoroaghpurification is not .5 requirech one or more of the subsequent steps ot' purification may be omittcdand the water-from theifirst settlingtank. or from the precipitationtank. or from the filter. "maybedischargeddirectl into the stream. TF-r t-hei'nibreliflsterilization.is desired. but fllffafiGin-isv not necessary. thezwater may i b lized asit comes from the precipitatmnfanka i.

hvthe above )IOCQSS is accomplished,

entit ing: others. the-o jects hereinbefore re.

twretl m; as well as others. which will he ob ions. w: I a i leinven'tiion accordingly consists in. the a-lsteps' and the relation andorder of i ohe or moreof'such steps with relation to each of the othersthereof. which have been 1 exeinl'ilified m the above disclosed process,and the scope "of the application of which 'il be indicated in theclaims that follow.

fi imany chaiigesicould he made: in carryme out the above proces -i'vithout departing am "the 'scop'e of; the-invention. itv is im -tendedtha" all ma :conta-i-ned. in he i =mterpret:edas i I tingsensc. lititlid id. that, the 'lan .1 'l .wi. gauge 11 ed rihthe followingcla1nis= is in tendtltticover all ofthe generic and specific "featuresof the invention herein' de- 65 scribed -nd all'statements of the scopeof w iii" separating the supernatant; w

the invention. which, as a matter lam. guage. might be said to falltherebetween.

lla\'in; described my inventio i. what I ."lilll'il as Iltflitllltldesire to} l t lateut is: I l. The prdce wastes which liliilist'suniting the alkali and the tanning wastes i ii such -prt jpi r tions assubstantially "to neutralize when of 1 2. The 'pi occ of l wastes whichc hrpif and the l'iiniii g'ai'aste. ane t disproportion which ma e l] tlt'l (lllll a willlliSiilliCE eqiir l ticient" waste. I l p i H n 3. Theprocess of dispo iug the: line and tanning tanneiifi Fwastesf ii'hi'chcomprises storing one of 'lheiii and in'ii t'i ig the stored waste tothe other waste in' ch proportions that they willsubstaiitial tralizeeach other. p i. The process. of dispt it line and tanning wastes.storing the tanning waste. tanning waste to Said all such proportionsthat the will neutralize each other. 5. T he process, of dislm'sii 'g'line and tanning waste whi l storing the tanning waste uni to thealkaline waste. resultant precipitate froii t1 6. The process of diwastes which comprisesse ning. and lime wastes. u

ot' dispt isingfofi' taii re ilting precipitate. T. l'he process of dis)0 l wastes. which comprise st 1 tralizing the tannin. subseq'nen theliquor bv precipitation. with ron sa 8. The process of choosing o twaste. which eon'iprises est part of the lime an d-ecolorizing with aniron pl;

9. The process. ohdis wastes. which comprise punrt waste and the limingwas;

resultant precipitate. pur fy precipitation, and then i ltepi ng.

10. The process disposip wastes. which comprise waste and the liming .ws

portion, which may exist between them by addingn substance equivalent tothe delivient waste, and subsequently purifying the resultant u'oduct byprecipitation.

13. The process of disposing of the ulkuline and tanning tunnery wastes,which coniiuisos storiug'oue of them, uniting 'the stored waste to theother waste in such ropoi'tious that they will neutralize ouch 0t ier,eliminating the resultant precipitate, and in urifying the resultantliquid.

ll, The process of disposing of tannery wastes, which comprisessegregating .the tunnin and lime wastes, uniting tiem, separating thesupernatant water from the resuiting precipitate, and subsequentlypurifying'hy precipitation with a suitable precipitant.

15. The process of disposing of the alkaine nd tanning waste, whichcomprises uniting the wastes,scparutinp the resultant precipitate fromtho iiquit, uniting the suid-llqllltl to the miscellaneous waters of thetun yard. and subsequently purifying the com ined waters.

16. The process of disposing of tannery wastes, which consists inseparating the wastes into three classes, comprising the anning Wastes,the liming wastes and the miscellaneousstators, uniting the'tnnni'ngwaste and the liming waste separating the resultant precipitate,mingling the resultant supernatant liquor with the miscellaneous Waters,and unifying the resultant liquor by )rooipitntion with a suitableprecipitant.

i l. 'lho process of disposing of tan'nery wa t which consists in searatingthe' wastes into three classes, comprising the tanning wastes,the liming wastes and the '1nis cellaneous waiters, uniting "the tanningwaste and the liming? waste, separating the resultant pmcipitnte,mingling the resultant supernatant liquor with' tho miscellaneouswaters, 11nd unifying the resultant liquor by precipitation with an ironsulfate;

18. The process of disposing of tanncry wustes,\vlnch consists inneutralizing the tanning and alkaline .wast'es, elii'ninnting theresultant neutralized chemicals, uniting the liquor to the miscellaneouswaters, and 'in purifying; the resultant liquid.

1 ho l n'ocess of disposing, of tanncry w nstegwhich consists inseglcgatiou ,of the tanning and] elk line wastes from eachpthei and frontvt'hc @uu." ellnncous waters, storing one of said first-mentionedwastes, uniting the stored- "wastes" b the other of, said 'firstmentioned wastes," emitting the resultant j 'recipitate tosettle;-ii1iitinc;the supei-nntttnt liquid to themiscellancous waters,and puri-l fymg' the'resultant liquid.

20$ process of dispo sing, of tannery waste which consistsip,segrcga-ti-oirof the tennis 5.1;]. felltafli iel wastes from-catchother andfrom the miscellaneous-witters. Storing 'laneous waters,

the tanning waste, uniting the tanning waste to the alkaline u'uslc.permitting the resultant precipitate to st-lllc. uniting thesuper-mutant liquid to tho iui i'clliu'icous waters. and purifying thercsuituut liquid.

21. The process of disposing of tunnel-y wnstcs, which consists inlltllll'ililllllg the tannin? and alkaline tlfilth. i-liiuimuing'theneutra izcd chemicals. uu|tlu; the liquor to the lTllSCQllBJll-JOUSwatt-rs, and in the resultant liquid by prt'ecipitution with a suitableprecipitant.

'22. The process of disposing of the alkaline and tanning wastes, whichf'fllllllllSGS uniting the wastes, separating the resultant precipitatefrom the liquid. uniting llH" suhl liquid to the i'niscellaneous watersof thetnh aid, and subsequently purifying the com hinted waters byprecipitation with a suitable precipitant.

23. The process of dis 'iosing of tanner-y wastes, which consists inseparating the wastes into three classes, comprising the tanning wastes,the liming wastes and the miscellaneous waters, uniting the tanningwaste and the liming Waste in 'iroportious substantially to neutralizeeach other, mingling the resultant supernatant liquor with. themiscellaneous waters, and purifying the resultant liquor'byprecipitation with a suitable precipitant.

24. The rocess of rlisposing'of tannery waste, whic 1 comprises removingthe large-st part of lime nnd'tannin from the liming and tannin wastes,and then adding the-misceilaneous waters and purifying by tion with aniron sulfate.

25. The process of disposing .of tannery wastes, which consists inseparating the wastes into three classes, conqirising the tanningwastes, the liming wastes and the miscellaneous waters, storing thetanning waste, uniting the tanning waste and the liming waste, inproportions substantially to neutralize each other, mingling theresultant-supernatant liquor with the iniscel and purifying theresultant; liquor by precipitation with a suitable pro-I cipitant.

26. :lhcprocess of disposing of tannery wastes, w ch consists inneutralizing the tanning and. alkaline wast-es, eliminating theneutralized chemicals, uniting the liquor to the miscellaneous waters,purifying the resultant :li nid'by precipitation with. a suitableprecipitant, .and subsequently sterilizin the'purifie d, water. J

57,-. The process of disposing of tginncry wnst'es,-. which consistsin'scgr'egzition of. the tanning and alkaline-wastes f-roineach otherzind from the neutral wastes, storingone ofsnid "first iiientioncd.wastes, unitingthe stored wastes to the other of ,saidfirst-mom ti'on-edwastes, permittingthe resultant precipitnte to settle, uniting thesupernatantpurifying precipitadisinfecting the liquid from-the settlingtank to the neutral wastes; purifying the resultant liquid, and

ltercd liquid.

28 The process of disposing of tanuery Wastes, which consists inseparating the wastes into three classes comprising the tanning waste,the liming waste and the niiscellancous'waters. storing oneof thefi'rsbinentioned wastes and uniting it to the other of thefirst-mentioned WflEttfi in such proportions as to substantiallyeliminate the tannin, uniting the resulting liquor free from theresulting precipitate to themiscellaneous water, and purifying the 'com-'bined waters by a precipitation with a suitable precipitantsuch asferrous sulfate.

' 29. The process of disposing of tannery wastes. "which consists in.separating the "wastes into three classes, comprising the tanning waste,the liming waste and the miscellaneous waters, storing one of thefirst-mntioned Wastes and uniting it to the other of the first-mentionedwastes in such proportion as to substantially eliminate the tannin,uniting the resulting liquor free.

from the resulting precipitate to the miscellaneous water, purifying thecombined Waters by apreci pitation with a suitable )18- cipitant suchasferrous sulfate, and su sequently filtering the resultant water.

'30. The tannlng process which conslst-s 111 subjecting the hides'tothe. action of 9. limin'g liquor in the liming tank and to the action ofa tanning liquor in a tanning vat,

uniting the liming liquor and the tanning liquor. removing thesupernatant liquid from the resultant precipitate and conducting theresultant precipitate to a suitable drying bed.

31. The tanning process. which consists in subjecting the hides to theaction of a liming liquor in a liming rat and to the action of tanningliquors in a tanning vat. subsequently uniting the liquors from the twovats in a tank. permitting the precipitate which is formed when theliquors are united to settle out. drawing off the supernatant water. andpermitting the precipitate to flow from the tank.

The tanning process which consists in washing the hides. subjecting themto the action of a liming liquor in a liming vat and to the action of atanning liquor in a tanning vat. subsequently uniting the liquor fromthe tanning vat to the liquor from liming rat and removing the resultantprecipitate from the liquor. adding the wash waters to the liquors fromwhich the firstprecipi tate has been removed. and purifving the mixedwaters by precipitation with a suitable precipitant.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY' W. TAYLOR.

W'itnesses: V lVILLI's B. RICE,

MARY L. KEELER.

